I forgot to show you something else we found last weekend while in the mountains. My husband has a good eye for knowing what I love and also for finding a great deal!! Well, he found this beautiful mirror for only FIVE DOLLARS! Yes, the mirror finish is a little mottled and their were chunks of the mirror paint that were completely gone ~ it didn't matter, I loved it!!
When I saw how easily the mirrored finish was flaking off, I remembered an idea I saw somewhere, maybe you can remember where....but you use paint stripper on the back side of the mirror to remove part of the finish to expose the clear glass. I've been wanting to do this FOREVER and finally found the perfect mirror to experiment the technique!
The paper backing was already gone so I cleaned the front and back with a wet rag, a little dish soap and dry paper towel. I took the mirror outside, laid it face down and painted the stripper on the back. Not over the entire back, I wanted it to have a natural look to it so I left around the edges solid but in the center I blobbed it on pretty thickly. I used a gel stripper too. I waited 30 minutes and scraped what I could off. I had to apply the stripper three separate times to achieve the look that I ended up with. If I were to get a razor blade I could scrape a little more off but I would have to do it carefully as I wouldn't want it to "look" scraped.
The paper backing was already gone so I cleaned the front and back with a wet rag, a little dish soap and dry paper towel. I took the mirror outside, laid it face down and painted the stripper on the back. Not over the entire back, I wanted it to have a natural look to it so I left around the edges solid but in the center I blobbed it on pretty thickly. I used a gel stripper too. I waited 30 minutes and scraped what I could off. I had to apply the stripper three separate times to achieve the look that I ended up with. If I were to get a razor blade I could scrape a little more off but I would have to do it carefully as I wouldn't want it to "look" scraped.
So now I need to decide what to place in the new opening!! I used a couple of prints my sweet friend Marcie sent me just to give you an idea of what it will look like ~ I think I'm going to get an image that I love enlarged to place in the opening....I'll be sure to share photos when I finish it!
Maybe I'll take the photo with the mirror in front of a blank wall, not my cluttered studio :)
Maybe I'll take the photo with the mirror in front of a blank wall, not my cluttered studio :)
The mittens are coming along...they still need a little sparkly snow dust!!!
I'd like to introduce you to another new blogger friend of mine!! You have GOT to see her amazing photography....AMAZING.....her Photoshop skills are very evident in her beautiful art ~ Please visit Anji of Distractions when you get a moment and you can see more of her art HERE.
And I HAVE to share with you the gorgeous project that Lori of Faerie Window has contributed to Artist Class!!! This beautiful embellished box ~ I've got to make one!
And one last little goodie, Sandy of Quill Cottage
is having a giveaway of her beautiful Autumn banner
that she created for Artist Class!!!
There are so many wonderful projects offered ~
She's giving away the actual banner that she created while making the tutorial ~
Hurry over and enter.....the contest ends Saturday, Oct. 31st!
JUST CLICK HERE AND COMMENT TO BE ENTERED
is having a giveaway of her beautiful Autumn banner
that she created for Artist Class!!!
There are so many wonderful projects offered ~
She's giving away the actual banner that she created while making the tutorial ~
Hurry over and enter.....the contest ends Saturday, Oct. 31st!
JUST CLICK HERE AND COMMENT TO BE ENTERED
Whew!!! I hope this post wasn't too long for you...but I had a lot to share!
Thank you so much for your sweet comments and for visiting me,
I appreciate you more than you'll ever know ~
Wishing you a very happy Friday!
hugs and love,
Dawn
Thank you so much for your sweet comments and for visiting me,
I appreciate you more than you'll ever know ~
Wishing you a very happy Friday!
hugs and love,
Dawn
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25 comments:
omg that mirror is fantastic!! iv done that with some smaller mirrors ! so much fun!! i love how u did it wiyh a big mirror! It loks Fantastic!
lol im so sorry about my typos! i cut my finger pretty bad tonight and had 6 stitchis and am typing with one finger . i forgot to preview my last comment!
Hi sweet, looks like youwas late up,whenposting this only half an hour ago,-here it is 8,30 morning----
Your mirror looks so beautifull, and with a rest of the old mirror left, it will be a fantastic "picture" sweet Dawn
Have a wonderfull friday dear.
Love and hugs, Dorthe
Dawn, the mirror is fabulous!!! i can't wait to see what you do with it...thanks for the shout out again, you are a doll:) Anji's blog banner is gorgeous...i wish i could understand photoshop, you can really do some amazing things with it...i just don't understand it though...
Hi Miz Dawn,
Kewl mirror, way to go Mr. D. !!! Seems like you could just tape the images, and change it when you wanted a different look,,,lighting or dimension from the back would be interesting too. Fun project,,, thanks for mentioning me.
The mittens are sweeties, I am off to visit Anji for a Distraction.
ox*Marcie*ox
I just love what you did with your mirror!! Thanks for sharing... I'll be on the look out for a mirror now.
Also, just wanted to let you know that I tried my hand at a few of your lovely mittens but put a twist on them... If you want to pop on by to my post today to see what I did with them. Thanks for your continued inspiration!
The mirror is so beautiful!!
It turned out nicely.
P.S. I love the mittens.
they are just toooo cute.
That mirror is simply beautiful ~ what a great idea! I can't wait to see it completed and displayed in your home!
I cam across Anji's blog the other day, and I agree that it's great. Her images are amazing!
Dawn,
I crack myself up sometimes, I'll tell you later why I removed my previous comment!
I want to say that I hope you are keeping the mirror project for yourself. If you put the image on a separate backing it could be changed out. I was thinking how fun an old fashioned Santa would be for Christmas, like he was peeking through a frosted window. My how your ideas spark mine. Love that!
Thank you for the sweet mention as well as the link. As we both know, my project would have never gotten published at the Artist Class if you had not bailed me out. Again, I thank you from the bottom of my very grateful heart.
I hope you have a super wonderful day!
Dawn , Oh I love the mirror -- I bouhht one a few years ago - that someone had removed the silvering and glued a Crazy cat picture (with a silly face ) didn't go with the baroque style at all -- Of course that is one of those I will do it one day projects -- that is still sitting in the corner of my studio with all those other get
a Round - TUIT __ projects -- Love yours -- kathy - ga
Lucky you, having a husband that knows your style! I can't wait to see the finished work. Is there anything you CAN'T do???
Love,
Anne
Ohhh, I can't wait to see your finished mirror! I'm so happy that you remembered the instructions for it. I would have "filed" the instructions somewhere that "I wouldn't forget". Then when I wanted to retrieve them, I'd forget where and not remember the entire instruction. That's scary.
Love your mirror Dawn, I remember doing this in the 70's when it was all the rage, but not with OLD mirrors. It's perfect for altered art. I have a friend that uses them for her art pieces and they are fabulous! Have fun!
Hi Dawn,
I don't think there is anything you won't try. The mirror sounds really cool and I am anxious to hear about how it turns out. I loved the pics from the Mountains. Just lovely. Good luck with the contest!!
I hope you are well. I miss seeing you. Let's try to get together soon with MammaRu and Judy.
Love,
Tammy
Dawn, I did this project once but on a much smaller scale. I didn't use striper, that would have been much easier than my method of scrapping the silver away with a knife blade. The result was beautiful though, yours will be gorgeous when it's finished.
Angie
you've gone and done it again
Hi Dawn! You might have seen the mirror project on my blog, I did a little post about using vintage wallpaper on the old flaky mirrors. I used Easy Off to remove the silvering, and it worked quite well. I'm certainly not taking credit for the mirror project idea, because I was originally inspired by mirrors I saw at Anthropologie last year. I love seeing how everyone can put a twist on a project such as this!
OMG....you DID find the perfect mirror for that project. Have done a couple before myself, but as you would expect....used roses.....have a great weekend...xojana
OMG Dawn! I have just arrived home from a 16 hour work day (don't ask!) to find my blog - yes MY blog - on your blog!!! I am so thrilled and cannot thank you enough for a mention - I feel quite important now!! Your mirror turned out beautifully - where will you hang it?! I don't think you have any room left in your studio!
Thank you again Dawn from the bottom of my heart and keep on inspiring the way you always do and.... YOU ROCK!
Your hubby did great! The mirror is fantastic! I'm very happy to have such a wonderful hubby, too. He always finds the greates stuff for me.
Thanks for sharing so many wonderful things with us. Great autumn giveaway and I love the Distractions picture you show and what a pretty pink box, so much work and detail.
Have a fun weekend...Tracy
So clever, what you're doing with the five dollar mirror! I'm looking forward to your finished product.
Warmly,
Tracey
Love it all Dawn, especially your mirror! What a good shopper your husband is! And the fact that he would stop at a sale in the first place. If that is contagious, please let me know, and send it my way!!
Hugs,
Sheila
So many beautiful inspirations here today! Love your mirror project and the information on the pretty decorated box! :-)
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